Gone are the days when staying in touch with family and friends required traveling to visit them, writing letters, or sending postcards that could take weeks to arrive. Only a few people could afford expensive international calls to connect with loved ones abroad, which was also challenging to coordinate due to time differences. However, emerging media have made it much easier to maintain relationships despite physical distance and time variations. People can now share their experiences and updates in real time through various new media formats and platforms.
Emerging media refers to innovative forms of communication that are transforming how we connect, access information, and entertain ourselves. In today’s society, which is firmly entrenched in the digital age, information technology reigns supreme. Traditional print and broadcast media remain significant in the digital age; rather, they are enhanced by emerging technologies such as email, websites, social media platforms, and online streaming services. Our social, economic, and political focus has shifted from industrialization to information technology.
Features of Emerging Media
Emerging media is typically designed with a mobile-first approach, enabling users to access content and services while on the go. It promotes interactivity, allowing for two-way communication where users can engage with content, creators, and other users. Additionally, emerging media offers immersive experiences, including virtual and augmented reality, which simulate real-world environments. It also facilitates convergence, often involving the integration of various technologies, platforms, and devices.
Emerging Media Platforms and Tools
Here are several examples of emerging media types. Through these various platforms and tools, people are witnessing a transformation in the creation, consumption, and interaction with media.
These are online environments that allow users to create, share, and interact with content, information, and other users. Social media has revolutionized the way people communicate, access information, and build relationships. Types of social media platforms include social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Video-sharing platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Twitch also fall into this category, as they enable users to upload, share, and view videos. Additionally, forums and discussion boards such as Quora, Reddit, and Discord allow users from around the world to engage in discussions, share information, and connect with others who share similar interests.
These are software applications, platforms, and resources that enable users to create, edit, and publish various types of content, including videos, graphics, and podcasts. Notable examples include Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, Premiere Pro, Anchor, Audacity, Photoshop, and Lumen5.
These applications and tools allow users to create, experience, and interact with immersive, computer-generated environments. Examples are Oculus, Vive, and ARKit.
Services like Anchor, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts allow users to create, distribute, and monetize podcasts.
AI systems can provide users with personalized recommendations based on their interests and behaviours. Chatbots are computer programs that use AI to simulate conversations with humans. There are also voice assistants, which are AI-powered tools that perform tasks and answer questions using voice commands.
How Do Emerging Media Impact the World?
Emerging media is transforming people's lives and societies in many ways, bringing both positive and negative impacts. Here are some of the key effects:
Positive Impacts
Negative Impacts
Emerging media, like many social phenomena, has several negative impacts. Below are some of the undesirable effects associated with it:
While emerging media offers many advantages, it is essential to recognize and address these negative aspects to foster a healthier media environment.
Emerging media are undoubtedly integrating into society’s framework. According to www.statista.com, 5.24 billion people, or 63.9 percent of the global population, are active social media users. Individuals, businesses, governments, and non-profit organizations increasingly depend on these emerging media tools to connect with their audiences, share messages, and foster relationships. As technology continues to evolve, the potential of emerging media is limitless.
REFERENCE
Information form https://info.mssmedia.com/blog/what-is-emerging-media-how-should-you-use-it, https://www.statista.com/statistics/617136/digital-population-worldwide/, and https://www.uidaho.edu/news/feature-stories/what-is-emerging-media was used in this story